Flush valve mechanism



Sept. 27, 1949. c, s, G RRATT, ,R v 2,482,970

FLUSH VALVE MECHANISM I Filed July :51, 19:45 v Q 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 U/zaries 61 G'arraii, J7:

A no rneys' Sept. 27, 1949. c. s. GARRATT, JR I 2,482,970

FLUSH VALVE MECHANISM Filed July 31, 1946 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 By W-FM At/m'ney;

/ 5 Illl'ellfm fliearzem fiarraillc' Patented Sept. 27, 1949 "r z:

UNITED STATES PATENTJIOFFICE 2,482,576

I FLUSH VAL E MECHANISM Charles S. Garratt,rJr., Suffolk 'Va, {app ic nt July 31, 1946; Serial rid-687,294 V a The present invention relate's toFlush 'valve mechanism and is an improvement on Paten't'No.

2,322,123; issued June 15, 1943. a v I The principal object of'the present invention is to provide a flush valve mechanism wherein the usual two-wire interconnected suspension for the flush ball is substituted for by a single wire, supported and operated in a more simplified manner than in flush valve mechanisms heretofore designed. a

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved trip mechanism for the flush ball, capable of being mounted upon the the usual overflow tube of a flush valve mecha- F' Still a further object of the invention is'to provide a single wire. suspension for flush valve balls wherein'simplifled guide means is employed tending to reduce the cost of manufacture of such mechanism.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:- 4

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the improvedball suspension and trip mechanism;

a -1 Claim. (01. l -67):

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 2'-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2; f Figure 4 isa fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure l; 1 A 7 Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Figure 5; Figure '7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on line |1 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a section through the bracket. Referring to the drawings, numeral 5 generally refers to a flush tank, the front wall of which carries an elongated trip shaft 6, joumaled therethrough and 'equippedat its outer end with a trip handle-1. v v s The inner portion of the shaft 6 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced and threaded openings 8, one of which is to receive the threaded portion 9 ofan eye'bolt'lll, having an eye head I I.

The conventional flush tank has an outlet fitting I2 upon which'theusual flush ball l3 seats.

Laterally from the fitting l2 is'dis posed a neck M, from which'rises a vertical overflow tube It andupon the upper edge of the tube 5 is mounted the improved'tripmechanism', generally referred to by numeral l6. 1

An after-fill tube ll, extending from the usual delivery valve (not shown), extends over the top of the overflow tubel5 so that water from the delivery valve; can flow into the tube l5 and in thisrespect, consideration should be given to the special construction of the trip mechanism IE to accommodate the positioning of the after-fill tube I'I.' The trip mechanism l6 consists of a bracket including 'a long sidewall l8 and a short sidewall [9, these walls being connected by an end wall 20.

The walls I8, '19, and!!! have depending portions with the depending portions of the walls l8, l9 formed with slots2la, M, the slot 21a bein substantially narrower than the'slot 2| so that the bracket can be shifted to and retained in an offset-position on the upper end of the overflow tube l5, as in the manner substantially shown in Figure 2. Reference should be made to Figure 8 to comprehend the relative relationship with said slots'2la, 2l;-

' The bracket sets up onthe'upper end of the overflow tube with the'slots Zla, 2| receiving the upper edge portion of the tube and a set screw 22 is disposed through the wall 20 and when fit; inwardly will "bite against the upper end of the overflow tube "Hi'to retain the'trip mechanism in firm retained position on the upper end of the tube, in 'which position the trip mechanism supports the flush ball Ill and its operating Parts;

The free end ofthe wall I8 has an upstanding back wall portion 23 whl'chserves a stop for the 'rearraised end portion 21 of a rocker arm 25, 'the portion 24" having a dependi'ng foot 26 adapted to abut the raised wall 23 of the bracket.

Risers 21 extend upwardly from the side walls I 8, I 9 of the bracket and are apertured to receive a horizontal pin 28, around which is disposed a wire spring 29, having one end anchored to the :bracket, while the other end engages under the foot 26 to retain the rocker arm 25 tilted to the of the outlet end' 3 position shown in Figure 1, which is the position in which the flush ball 13 is seated upon the fitting 12.

A pin 3|] is disposed through the walls l8, l9 and has an upstanding arm 3| secured to the end thereof distal from the wall 13, the upper end of the arm 3| having an eye 32 for receiving the eye 33 of a hook 34, the bill of which is disposed through the aforementioned eye I l of the eye bolt I0, carried by the trip Shaft 6. y

The upwardly offset portion 24' of the rocker arm 25 defines a cam surface 35 against which a laterally disposed pintle 36 on the upstanding 4 surfaces are necessary to permit proper seatin of the ball, and further, due to the offset disposition of the bracket upon the overflow tube and the provision of an arm 3|, at only one side portion of this trip mechanism, ample space is made available for the after-fill tube 11.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the various parts are so connected and related as to permit ready disconnection thereof from component parts, inforderfthat repairs or'replacements can be easily made.

. While the foregoing description sets forth the arm 31 acts, when the arm 3| is tilted toward the right in Figure 1.

The upper ends of the side wall risers 21 are Figure 1, due to the weight of the ball 13 and the contributory force of the spring 21.

' An eye bolt 38 havingan eye or 'apertured head 39 is disposed through one of several openings 49 in the remaining end'of the rocker arm and this 'apertured head 39 receives the upper end portion :of a unitary non-sectional rod or wire 4|, the upper end of which has a stop Or nut 42 for co-action with apertured head 39, when the rocker arm 25 is tilted upwardly in its operation to lift the ball 13.

In addition to the apertured head 39, one additional guide element is employed for the single wire suspension element 4 l. and this is composed of a split band 43 clamped by a screw 44 to a medial portion of the overflow tube 15. This guide includes an arm .4i. having downwardly and inwardly bent'lugs 4.8 at its inner end for embracing a tongue 41 projecting from the clamp band 43. The inner end or the arm 45 has a slot 48 matching a. threaded opening in the tongue 41. A screw 49 is disposed downwardly through the slot 48 and into the threaded opening of the tongue 41 and there tightened to maintain the arm 45 in proper projecting relation with respect to the tongue 41. The outer end of the arm 45 has an opening 50 for slidably receiving the flush 15' ball Wire 4|.

In the operation of the mechanism, it can be seen that in order to flush the closet, the shaft 6 is rotated by the handle 1, which actuates the eye bolt l0 and pulls on the hook link 34. This tilts the arm 3|, to the right in Figure 1, with the pintle 36 riding against the cam surface 35 of the end portion 24 of the rocker arm 25. This forces the end portion 24 of the rocker arm downwardly until the foot 26 meets the raised end wall 23 of the bracket, thisarrangement being provided so that there will be no contact with the after-fill tube l1. Further, it can be appreciated that the ofiset disposition of the entire trip mechanism and its bracket is for the accommodation of the after-dill tube 11.

In this action of the rocker arm 25, by the arm 3| and 'pintle 36, the rod Hendof the arm- 25 will be lifted, the apertured head 39 of the bolt 38 lifting [the rod so as to unseat the ball l3 from the outlet fitting l2.

It can be seen that through the employment or a single ball suspension wire 41, less guide invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and as new is:

Ina flush tank mechanism, an overflow tube, a

:bracket detachablymount'ed across the upper end .of' the overflow, tubeand having sidewalls connected by an end wall, standards rising from the sidewalls adjacent the end wall, a rocker arm 'pivotally mounted between said standards and projecting outwardly from the bracket and having its outer end portion adapted for connection with the rod of 'a flush valve, the inner end portion of the rocker arm being disposed at an upward incline and formed with a cam surface along its upper edge; a lever pivoted outwardly of one side wall of said bnacket and extending upwardly against the standard carried bythe said side wall and formed with an eye at its upper end, a hook having its inner end mounted through the eye of said lever and having a bill at its outer end for connection with ,a' trip shaft, a pin extending laterally from said-lever and across upper ends of said standards glnposition :forengaging the cam surface of the ends of said standards in position for engaging the cam surface of the upwardly inclined inner end portion, of the rocker arm and swinging the same. downwardly and tilting the rocker arm'in a directionito raise the flush valve when the lever isswung outof its normally upright position, lugs rising from upper ends of the standards in position for engagement by the pin when the lever is swung upwardly to its upright position to limit such upward movement, and a spring urging the rocker arm towards its normal position.

CHARLES S. 'GARRATT, JR.

, REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 7

UNITED STATES rA'rENTs 

